Maoists need 'hand holding': Jamia vice chancellor

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung Wednesday said that Maoists were "our own people" and needed "hand holding" instead of the government's ruthless supression.

Speaking at the Maulana Azad memorial Lecture on "Governments, Governance and Sensitivity", Jung said that the generic opinion that Maoists or supporters of adivasis are trained in China is erroneous.

"These are not foreigners, these are our own people. They need hand holding and sensitivity but what they get is completely different," said Jung addressing the gathering that included Law and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Minister of State for Minority Affairs Vincent H. Pala, students and faculty.

"Over the past century, the adivasis of India have made lots of sacrifices for the cause of development. Any resistance has been ruthlessly crushed," he added.

Jung further said that it was strange that a government that negotiates truces and offers amnesty to dacoits including Phoolan Devi has a completely different policy when it came to Maoists.

"The government is inept in combating corruption, providing justice to riot victims and protecting the rights of the tiller. In this land of Buddha, Mahavir, Nanak and Gandhi the government now turns a blind eye and deaf ear to thousands of farmers who, as we speak are committing suicides," said Jung.

Speaking on Kashmir, Jung said that the loyalty of the state was always suspected and for the past six decades, no government has sensitized mainstream India to the unique situation in the state.

"There is no dissemination of information that if there is Article 370 in Kashmir, there is also article 371 (A) for Nagaland, 371 (B) for Assam, 371 (C) for Manipur, 371 (D) for Andhra Pradesh, 371 (F) for Sikkim and 371 (H) for Arunachal Pradesh," said Jung.

"The fact that Kashmiri Pandits have not resettled in the state proves that the government has failed to address the issue. It is a matter of shame for all of us," added Jung.